Filling the Empty Nest (With Money)

It’s summer time and for stay-at-home parents and their children, life is good. The sun is shining, the kids are happy, playing in the yard, running through sprinklers…tracking mud through the house. Sigh. Then storm clouds bring shade and the comforting sound of summer rain, and your little ones stay curled up inside and you read their favorite book out loud. Happy sigh.

With August soon approaching, many stay-at-home parents look forward to the freedom and quiet that a day to themselves brings. But with the house so empty, many moms and dads find themselves quickly missing the busy chaos of parenthood.

Weighing the Options

So you start to think of what options are out there for stay-at-home moms and dads like yourself. You could fill your day with hobbies and volunteer work, but part of you feels driven to find a more lucrative pastime. Getting a job is a logical conclusion, but you hesitate, wondering if it’s really the best choice.

What if work takes away from time with your family? You would be devastated if you missed a recital, or were late picking up your kindergartner, just because your boss asked you to stay a bit longer. You could set a firm availability: only weekdays, only 10AM to 2PM, but that’s not the most appealing schedule to hiring-managers. Plus, being tied to the demands of a boss sounds a bit counter productive. You need some YOU time, for the sake of the whole family.

Getting Back to Work Without Missing A Beat

There is a way out of this pickle. It’s possible to rediscover old passions, dive into new hobbies and turn your interests into money, all at the same time. With Moonlighting, you’ve already taken the first step towards making this possibility a reality.

Moonlighting is a gateway to the world of freelancing. Whether you use the website or the app, they provide all the tools you need to get started and find success, even if you’re new to the idea of working as a freelancer.

By working as a freelancer, you pick your time to be productive. When the kids are at school, you can get to work. Once they arrive home, you can stop what you’re doing, smother them in hugs, and answer as many of their “why” questions as you’d like. If it’s nap time, or they beg you to watch that one movie about the fish (again??), you can get back to what you were doing – or not. Your choice. That’s the beauty of it.

Through the Moonlighting platform, you can post ads that describe your skills, find clients, communicate with your clients, and even receive payment. Having everything in one place helps keep you organized and on track. If you need guidance, the Moonlighting staff is here to help you with one-on-one correspondence at any time along the way. Still not sure what Moonlighting is all about? Feel free to peruse the blog. Here you’ll find all kinds of information on what the company is about, and how to make the best use of it.

Finding Your Niche

For some of you, an idea has already popped into your head, and you know exactly what you want to do (photography!) (dog walking!) (garden keeping!). But for a lot of us, the idea of freelancing has us scratching our heads. Maybe there’s a skill you’ve always wanted to try your hand at, but you never had the time or motivation to learn. Now, in the age of information, there are so many ways to learn new, useful skills for free from your own home (ever thought about learning web design?) Knowing that you have Moonlighting to turn those new or old skills into cash will give you the boost you need to get going on the things you’ve always wanted to try.

From Inspired to Inspiration

If you’re still coming up blank, just look around for some ideas. Check out Moonbeam and explore what other members are posting to get an idea of what you could bring to the table. Once you’ve figured out the direction you want to take, and you’ve found success in your new gig, you’ll become an inspiration to your family and those around you. The next time you tell your kids that “you can do whatever you set your mind to” you can say it with confidence, because you’ll be living proof. There’s a hidden talent in all of us, and finding something you love doing can bring joy – and some extra income – to you and your family.

About Author

Sarah Rhodes

Sarah is Moonlighting's go-to freelance article writer, living the type of life that Moonlighting enables. After spending almost four years working towards a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Central Florida, Sarah decided to take a leap, swapping traditional school for independent study and travel. Now, Sarah is after a freelance career that will let her continue doing what she loves; writing and exploring.